Treatments

New, non-surgical procedure at UHC used to diagnose conditions that may cause abdominal pain or abnormal weight loss.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a minimally invasive procedure that allows your doctor to examine esophageal and stomach linings as well as the walls of your upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, and identify any abnormalities. EUS is also used to study other organs that are near the gastrointestinal tract, including the lungs, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

It involves the insertion of a thin tube into the mouth and down into the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. At the tip of the tube is a small ultrasound probe that emits sound waves.

The entire process usually takes 30 to 90 minutes and the patient usually can go home the same day of the procedure.

UHC has also added Spyglass DS to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and bile ducts.

New Technology at UHC Provides Relief for Chronic Reflux

The Stretta System provides relief for patients with chronic reflux (gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD). This non-surgical outpatient procedure takes about an hour, with patients returning to normal activities within a few days.

The system delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the muscle between the stomach and esophagus, which remodels and improves the muscle tissue, resulting in improved barrier function and fewer reflux events.

If you are among the 30% of chronic GERD patients whose symptoms are not well-controlled by medications, or you are concerned about the potential side effects of long-term drug treatment, and surgery seems too aggressive, Stretta could be your answer.

SmartPIll (Gastroparesis or Chronic Constipation)

If you experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, bloating, constipation or vomiting, you may have a motility disorder such as gastroparesis or chronic constipation. If you suffer from these or other unexplained GI symptoms, your physician may determine the SmartPill capsule is right for you.

Bravo pH Monitoring

A patient-friendly test to help you understand your reflux symptoms. This monitors your symptoms during your regular activities. It comes in a convenient capsule based design.

Anorectal Manometry

A test used to evaluate the function and coordination of the sphincter and pelvic floor muscles of the anorectal anatomy. This test also assesses the measurement of resting and squeeze pressures, as well as the length of the anal canal. This test is performed to measure chronic constipation, fecal incontinence, rectal prolapse, Hirschsprung’s Disease, and pre-operative evaluations.

Esophageal Manometry

An esophageal motility study or esophageal manometry is a test to assess motor function of the upper esophageal sphincter, esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter. An EMS is typically done to evaluate suspected disorders of motility or peristalsis of the esophagus. These include achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, nutcracker esophagus, and hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter. These disorders typically present with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, usually to both solids and liquids even initially. Other patients with spasm disorders may have the test done to diagnose chest pain thought not to be of cardiac cause

Capsule Endoscopy

This allows your doctor to examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the three portions of the small intestine. Your doctor will give a pill sized video camera for you to swallow. The camera will take pictures of your small intestine as it passes through. These pictures are sent to a small recording device you wear on your body. Your doctor will be able to view these pictures at a later time, and then provide you useful information regarding your small intestine.

ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a specialized technique used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder.

Colonoscopy

This is the endoscopic examination of the large bowel and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis and grants the opportunity for biopsy or removal of suspected colorectal cancer lesions. Colonoscopy can remove polyps as small as one millimetre or less. Once polyps are removed, they can be studied with the aid of a microscope to determine if they are precancerous.

Upper Endoscopy

An endoscopy is used in medicine to look inside the body. The endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, endoscopes are inserted directly into the organ.

Impedance

This is a procedure during which your doctor inserts a small catheter into your esophagus which measures both acidic and non-acidic reflux in your esophagus over 24 hours.

Patency Capsule

The patency capsule is an ingestible and dissolvable capsule intended to ensure that things move normally through the GI tract (i.e., it is “patent”). It is typically used to determine if it is safe to proceed to a capsule endoscopy test.

Sitz Markers

This test uses tiny radio-opaque ‘markers’ to test how fast food is moving through the intestines. It is most often used with patients who are suffering from chronic constipation.